A merger has been agreed to access new markets across Scotland for a Borders-based estate agency.

The move sees Paton & Co join forces with Peter Graham and Associates, creating a combined business that will operate across the Borders, Northumberland, the Highlands and Northeast Scotland.

The merger responds to demand from clients for integrated advisory services across wider geographies, particularly within rural, property and land-based sectors.

The combined firm will bring together a team of more than 20 professionals under the Paton & Co brand.

Partner Patrick Paton says: “This is a natural progression for us. We have built a strong presence in the Borders and Northumberland and this merger allows us to expand that reach while staying true to the way we work.

“For our clients, this is about access to a broader range of expertise while continuing to deal with the same trusted people. That continuity is critical, particularly for businesses that value long-term advisory relationships.”

This will see services including rural advisory, lettings and specialist expertise in areas such as natural capital and renewable energy immediately available to Paton & Co’s existing client base. 

In the north of Scotland, the merger will introduce enhanced estate agency services, building on existing local knowledge and relationships.

The merger also brings together three members of the same family, with Patrick Paton and his wife Celia joining forces with her father, Peter Graham, as partners in the business.

Peter Graham, Owner of Peter Graham Associates, with offices in Elgin and the Black Isle, comments: “Over the years there have been approaches from larger firms, but they don’t want me or my team – they want my clients, and that was never something I was prepared to accept.

“I wanted to find a way to transition the business that protected those relationships. My clients deserve better than being absorbed into a corporate model where the focus is on fees rather than the individual.

“This is about bringing together two businesses with the same ethos. We are not taking anything away – we are adding services and strengthening what we already do.

“At its heart, this business has always been built on trust, relationships and giving honest advice, and it was critical to me that continues.”